Music-Making Through Group Piano for Senior Citizens.

Pamela D. Pike (Louisiana State University), piano

Calaroga Terrace Retirement Community, Portland, Oregon

October 24, 2009

The participants were residents of Calaroga Terrace, a retirement community in Portland, Oregon. Some of the participants were able to move about easily on their own, while others required wheelchairs. All were able to sit at portable keyboards to participate in the group-piano music activities.

Pike-srs-class-piano
This project introduced senior citizens to an ensemble keyboard activity. All participants took turns playing together on the keyboards. Participants not playing on a specific piece of music were encouraged to tap, clap, hum, or sing along with those seated at the keyboard. Some participants had experience playing piano and reading music. Others were playing piano for the first time. Due to the choice of ensemble repertoire and through off-staff notational shorthand, the participants were able to make music together during the allotted time. Novice pianists were introduced to reading a single line of familiar music through non-traditional notation, while more advanced pianists read more complex notation. Each participant was responsible for one part in the overall ensemble piece. The group rehearsed a piece of music until it was both musically satisfying for the performers and for the other participants in the room. A new group of participants then rehearsed another carefully chosen ensemble piece. Everyone appeared to be engaged and enjoyed the process of making music while at the keyboards. By using appropriately chosen ensemble repertoire, the senior citizens were able to succeed irrespective of past piano or musical experiences.